WEBVTT
PREPORTER: THIS IS THE NATIVITY
PSCENE A WISCONSIN-BASED GROUP
PTHREATENED TO SUE THE CITY OVER.
P>> WE'RE STANDING FIRM, WE'RE
PNOT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE IN.
PREPORTER: NOT GIVING IN TO
PTAKING DOWN THIS NATIVITY SCENE.
PWISCONSIN-BASED GROUP, THE
PFREEDOM FROM RELIGION
PFOUNDATION, SENT A LETTER TO THE
PCITY LAST YEAR, SAYING THEY WERE
PCONTACTED BY A CONCERNED CITIZEN
PIN BELEN WHO WANTED THE CITY TO
PREMOVE THE NATIVITY SCENE.
PIF THEY DIDN'T, THE GROUP WOULD
PSUE.
P>> WE STOOD FIRM, OUR ATTORNEY
PSENT A LETTER TO THEM SAYING DO
PWHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
PREPORTER: BELEN CITY COUNCILOR
PDAVID CARTER SAYS THE GROUP HAS
PSTAYED QUIET FOR THE PAST SIX
PMONTHS.
PBUT THE ISSUE MAY NOT BE OVER.
PTHE FREEDOM FROM RELIGION
PFOUNDATION IS ARGUING THE
PNATIVITY SCENE IS A VIOLATION OF
PTHE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND
PSTATE.
P>> IT'S ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY,
PCITY PROPERTY, AND THEY'RE
PSAYING NO WE CAN'T HAVE A SYMBOL
POF ONE RELIGION BECAUSE WE'RE
PPUSHING THAT RELIGION AS A
PGOVERNMENT ENTITY.
PREPORTER: CITY AND RELIGIOUS
PLEADERS, DISAGREE.
P>> BELEN MEANS LITTLE
PBETHLEHEM, SO ALL WE'RE DOING IS
PTRYING TO DO SOMETHING OF A
PHISTORICAL NATURE, AND SO MY
PREACTION IS WISCONSIN CAN DO
PWHAT THEY WANT TO DO, WE'RE
PGOING TO CELEBRATE JESUS AS A
PCOMMUNITY HERE.
PREPORTER: THIS IS HOW THEY'RE
PCELEBRATING.
PTHE 4TH ANNUAL FOLLOW THE STAR
PTO BETHLEHEM.
P>> THIS IS HISTORICAL AND
PTRADITIONAL, AND ALL WE'RE DOING
PIS HONORING LITTLE BETHLEHEM.
PREPORTER: CITY LEADERS TELL ME
PRELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS WILL
PHELP THE CITY WITH LEGAL FEES IF
PIT GETS TO THAT POINT, IN BELEN,
PJUSTIN MATTHEWS, KOAT ACTION

In Belen, N.M., there's been a nativity scene on city property for many holiday seasons. A group in Wisconsin says it's a violation of the separation of church and state, but residents are saying it should stay.

BELEN, N.M. —

In Belen, N.M., there's been a nativity scene on city property for many holiday seasons. A group in Wisconsin says it's a violation of the separation of church and state, but residents are saying it should stay.